Used 2020 BMW Z4 for SaleNationwide

Is the 2020 BMW Z4 a good car?

Yes — the 2020 BMW Z4 earns 4.71/5 from owners and 7.5/10 from our experts. The standout strength is Performance at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise the Z4’s performance and handling, and they also call out the comfortable seats, smooth transmission, and powerful engine. That lines up with the car’s use case as a small convertible built for lively driving and top-down touring, especially if you want a roadster that feels sporty rather than purely stylish.

The trade-offs are the outdated technology and some road noise from the soft top. Even so, the Z4’s strong driving character and everyday comfort make it a compelling choice if you value fun behind the wheel more than the latest cabin tech.

With 34.5% of listings priced as good or great deals, the market gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2020 BMW Z4 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.71/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The owner summary also points to a car that feels dependable in daily use, with praise for its smooth transmission and powerful engine, which are the kinds of traits that usually support trouble-free ownership when the car has been maintained well.

The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by describing the Z4 as a refined, well-sorted roadster with a strong powertrain and a polished driving experience. The cost-effectiveness discussion also notes that the first scheduled maintenance visit is on the house, which is a helpful ownership perk.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the core mechanical character and more about how well the car has been cared for, especially given the premium hardware and option-heavy nature of the model.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 BMW Z4?

At 71.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially on cars with higher mileage or multiple options. Focus on body condition, soft-top operation, and signs that the car has been used as intended, since this is a roadster where wear can show up in both the cabin and the exterior.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base sDrive30i includes automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, automatic climate control, 14-way power and memory seats, a 10.24-inch touchscreen, navigation, HD Radio, and Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto is missing. The M40i adds the inline-6 engine and includes more equipment, making it the stronger choice if you want the full performance character.
• Powertrain: The sDrive30i uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the M40i uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with 383 hp and 368 lb-ft. The 4-cylinder is quick and lighter, but the inline-6 is the one that delivers the Z4’s standout performance.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes frontal collision warning with emergency braking and traffic-sign recognition. The Driving Assistance package adds blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning, while the Convenience package adds rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic parking system, satellite radio, adaptive cruise, and smartphone key pairing.
• Infotainment: The Z4 uses a 10.24-inch touchscreen with BMW iDrive. Apple CarPlay is offered, but Android Auto is not. The system also includes 20GB of storage, and the car can be optioned with a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging.
• Fuel efficiency: The 4-cylinder engine can get to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. The inline-6 reaches 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds.

Which 2020 BMW Z4 trim should I buy?

The 2020 BMW Z4 is offered in 2 trim levels: sDrive30i and sDriveM40i.

Here's the short version:

• sDrive30i: This is the value play if you want the Z4’s core roadster experience at a lower starting price. It brings the standard luxury and tech features, and the 4-cylinder engine is still quick enough for spirited driving. If you want the best balance of price and everyday enjoyment, this is the trim to start with.
• sDriveM40i: This is the trim to buy if performance is your priority. It adds the inline-6 engine and comes with more of the desirable equipment already included, making it the better choice for buyers who want the Z4 to feel genuinely special every time you drive it.

The safety-package note to keep in mind is that blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning are tied to the Driving Assistance package, while rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise come with the Convenience package.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 BMW Z4?

The market looks selective rather than overheated, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient and compare condition carefully.

• Deal availability: 34.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 110 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 71.8% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2020 BMW Z4 safe?

The redesigned BMW Z4 has yet to be tested by the government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety features include frontal collision warning with emergency braking and traffic-sign recognition. You can add blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning with the Driving Assistance package, or rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic parking system, satellite radio, adaptive cruise, and smartphone key pairing with the Convenience package.

The Z4 also has relatively poor rear visibility when the top is up, and the wind deflector can make rearward visibility more difficult with the top down.

Should I buy a 2020 BMW Z4 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 34.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Owners rate it 4.71/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The inline 6-cylinder engine returns in M40i form, restoring the power that best matches the Z4’s sporty personality.

The bottom line: If you want the Z4 with the strongest performance story, the 2020 model is the one to target because it brings back the inline-6 and keeps the car’s fun, handling-focused character intact. If you’re shopping more carefully on price, the sDrive30i can still make sense, but the M40i is the version that most fully delivers what makes this roadster special.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.